Air-tank.



W. V. GARGEAU.

AIR TANK.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 5, 1913.

Patented Apr. 7, 1914.

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS @TES AIR-TANK.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WARD V. GARCEAU, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Air-Tanks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to tanks and more particularly to compressed air tanks, the purpose of my invention being to provide a compressed air tank in which, under suitable conditions,the bodyportion of the tank expands and contracts according to air pressure carriedor in other words, according to the amount of air contained in the tank.

My invention can be used in a great variety of relations and is of special service where lightness combined with small volume and freedom from mechanical complications are desirable.

The tank is very economical in its action.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification in which like letters indicate like parts.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the tank on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2, looking in direction of the arrows. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the tank complete. Fig. 3 is a cross section 011 the line 33 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 4: is an end elevation showing the tank as it would appear to an observer stationed at the right of Fig. 2.

An air cylinder 5 is provided at one of its ends with an annular flange 5 having four lugs 6 extending outwardly therefrom. A head 7 is provided with an annular portion 7 mating the annular flange 5 and carrying lugs 8 which mate the lugs 6. The head 7 is secured to the air cylinder by bolts 9. Connected with the head 7 is an inlet pipe 10 and an outlet pipe 11. The cylinder 5 at its end opposite the head 7 is provided with a number of annular packings 12 sunken into the wall of the cylinder and extending substantially flush with the internal surface thereof, as will be understood from Fig. 1. Another air cylinder is shown at 13 and is provided adjacent one of its ends with a number of annular packings 14: which are sunken into the wall of the air cylinder and extend out substantially flush with its outer surface. These packings are adapted to engage the adjacent inner surface of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 5, 1913.

Patented Apr. *2, 1914.

Serial No. 783,024.

cylinder 5, and the packings 12 carried by the cylinder 5 are adapted to engage the adjacent outer surface of the cylinder 13. The cylinder 13 is provided at one of its ends with an annular flange 15 carrying a num' ber of lugs 15 integral with it. A head 16 is provided with an annular portion 16 carrying lugs 17 the annular portion 16 mating the annular flange 15, and the lugs 17 mating the lugs 15. Bolts 18 hold the head 16 upon the adjacent end portion of the air cylinder 13.

The guide plates 19 are arranged in pairs, the plates of each pair being connected together by a pair of guide rods 22, thelatter being provided at their ends with eyes 23, each eye, carried by either rod 22, encircling the other rod 22 of the same pair. Rods 2-1 are carried by the air cylinders 5 and 13, and are threaded at 25 and fitted with nuts 26.

I provide a number of tensile springs 28, each spring having a general spiral form and having a diameter greater at its middle portion than at its ends. Each spring 28 is carried by two rods 24 which are provided with eyes 30. Each spring 23 is provided at its ends with loops 31 which engage the adjacent eyes 30. The parts are so arranged that the tension of the springs 28 by pulling upon the rods 24 causes the air cylinder 13 to remain within the cylinder 5 until the tank is subjected to an internal air pressure suflicient to partially overcome the tension of the springs 28, and when this takes place, the tank virtually becomes elongated to the extent that the springs are stretched by the tension of the air. The air cylinders 5 and 13 thus have a telescopic relation in that they are slidable relatively to each other. If a moderate pressure of air develops within the tank, the air cylinders do not move relatively to each other, but with greater pressures the tank becomes elongated, as above described, and the tension of the compressed air is greater when the tank is of a maximum total length. Owing to this arrangement, the tank occupies an amount of space proportionate to the quantity of compressed air storedwithin it.

The operation of the tank is very economical, in that there is no appreciable waste of air, and the friction of the parts is neglible. Moreover, the air under pressure within the tank has its greatest density when space considerations are of the greatest im-o portance, that is, when the tank is at its maximum length,

My improved air tank may be used in so many independent relations that I will not undertake to enumerate them. Suffice it to say that it may be employed for any purpose requiring the storage of air, and that it is of special service where it be desired to accompany such storage with a maximum of lightness and with simplicity of the storage mechanism.

I do not limit myself to the precise construction shown, as variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A compressed-air tank comprising a pair of telescoping air cylinders, springs connected at one end to one of the cylinders and at the opposite end to the opposite cylinder, and rods carried by the cylinders and slidably engaging each other and adapted to prevent rotary movement of the cylinders relative to each other.

2. A compressed air tank comprising a pair of telescoping air cylinders, rods carried by each cylinder, yieldable elements connected at their ends to the rods, and guide means supported by the rods to prevent relative rotary movement of the cylinders. I

3. A device of the character described, comprising a pair of air cylinders fitted telescopically together, a plurality of rods carried by one of said cylinders and extendingparallel with the axis thereof, a plurality of rods carried by the other of said cylinders and extending parallel with the axis thereof, said last mentioned rods being in substantial registry with said first mentioned rods, a spring extending from each rod carried by one cylinder to another rod carried by the other cylinder, a cross head mounted upon each rod, there being a cross head at each end of each spring and guide rods engaging said cross heads.

4- A device of the character described comprising a pair of air cylinders fitted telescopically together thus forming a tank of variable capacity, rods connected to each cylinder and arrangedin pairs, plates car ried by said rods, guide rods connected with said plates and arranged in pairs, each guide rod carrying an eye which encircles another guide rod, and springs connected each at its ends with said first mentioned rods.

5. The combination with a plurality of air cylinders movable axially with relation to each other, of yieldable elements connected with the cylinders, and guide elements movable axially with relation to each other,

adapted to prevent relative torsional move- I ment of the air cylinders.

o WARD V. GARGEAU.

Witnesses:

WM, GELDERSMA, PETER TELDER,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

